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Efficacy and quality of informed consent for Dacryocystorhinostomy–a prospective study


Advances in Ophthalmology & Visual System
Laura Ah-Kye, Anna Ginter, Ahmad Aziz

Abstract

Informed consent is an integral part of good clinical practice; it is a legal and ethical principle, enabling patients to make decisions about their medical and surgical care in an autonomous and self-determined way.1 For consent to be valid, it must be given freely and voluntarily by a capacitated patient who has been sufficiently informed about the consequences of their choices.2,3 In clinical practice, the actual journey in obtaining valid consent may be a long one, especially when consenting for surgical procedures. In its completeness, the consenting process comprises a patient focussed discussion on the diagnosis, prognosis and issues that require intervention, the nature and benefits of the intervention, the associated risks, the available alternatives and consequences of no intervention, and opportunities for the patient to ask further questions.4,5 The patient can be given decision aids (patient information leaflets/web/videos), encouraged to involve people in the processing of information (spouse/relative/friend) and encouraged to delay formal consent after a period of time for consideration.5 Additionally, the clinician tailors their approach depending on the degree of patient knowledge and the complexity of the procedure, re-checking whether the patient has understood adequately to make a decision.4 The discussion that has occurred and the patient’s decision must be documented in the medical records, along with a standard signed consent form.6

Keywords

surgery, dacryocystorhinostomy, ophthalmology, informed consent, nasolacrimal duct

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